Books & Looks: Real Books for Real Readers was started as a podcast to supplement Blaine Desantis’ website, ViewsOnBooks.com, and expand into audio interviews with authors. With Books & Looks, Blaine’s goal is to focus on real books that real people will read. At least half of the books he reviews are either…
Blaine DesantisJune 21, 2023
“It’s surreal in many ways,” says Shawn “S.A.” Cosby. “A few years ago, literally, nobody knew my name.” If you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, perhaps you missed Cosby’s meteoric rise to the top of bestsellerdom and his raw, rural, and racially rooted depictions of…
Rick PullenJune 20, 2023
Can water wash away all crimes, or will clever detectives and sleuths be able to dredge up the truth once and for all? In these mystery novels, the water isn’t necessarily the killer — but it plays a major role in the crime. There’s something haunting about novels where a…
Megan BeauregardJune 15, 2023
Chris Bohjalian is a very well-known novelist — he is a New York Times bestseller, has been translated into thirty languages, and has had his work adapted for movies and TV series. Last year saw the release of The Lioness, his gripping, historical thriller set in East Africa, and the…
Michael SearsJune 12, 2023
Quarterly crime-fiction and mystery magazine The Strand has announced its list of nominees for the annual Strand Magazine Critics Awards. Authors Louise Penny, Michael Connelly, and Alex Segura headline this year’s nominees for best novel, while Dan Smetanka of Counterpoint Press receives the Publisher of the Year Award. James Lee…
BookTribJune 9, 2023
Books & Looks: Real Books for Real Readers was started as a podcast to supplement Blaine Desantis’ website, ViewsOnBooks.com, and expand into audio interviews with authors. With Books & Looks, Blaine’s goal is to focus on real books that real people will read. At least half of the books he reviews are either…
Blaine DesantisJune 7, 2023
With film adaptations like Mildred Pierce, Double Indemnity, and The Postman Always Rings Twice, James M. Cain has more adaptations than any of the original noir authors. But few people realize the man behind these stories has more work to be discovered. In 2012, The Strand released their first uncovered…
BookTribMay 31, 2023
The Empty Kayak (Level Best Books) by Jodé Millman follows the relentless investigation of a missing person case on the Hudson River that exposes closely guarded secrets and social media malice, and threatens to leave a young girl without a father. Detective Ebony Jones is called to the scene of…
Michael FerryMay 30, 2023
He told me about her before we moved. A friend of a friend of a friend is what he said. Whatever…I wasn’t dying to make friends with some random woman anyway. But that wouldn’t have been nice. And my dad, he’s a nice person. No, he’s not. The girl speaking…
Neil NyrenMay 26, 2023
Books & Looks: Real Books for Real Readers was started as a podcast to supplement Blaine Desantis’ website, ViewsOnBooks.com, and expand into audio interviews with authors. With Books & Looks, Blaine’s goal is to focus on real books that real people will read. At least half of the books he reviews are either…
Blaine DesantisMay 24, 2023
With The Nigerwife, novelist, playwright and poet Vanessa Walters takes her first excursion into the mystery genre — and it’s an impressive one. The book has already been optioned for HBO. The Nigerwife introduces us to Nicole, who seemingly has the perfect life — a handsome husband, Tonye, two beautiful…
Michael SearsMay 17, 2023
Books & Looks: Real Books for Real Readers was started as a podcast to supplement Blaine Desantis’ website, ViewsOnBooks.com, and expand into audio interviews with authors. With Books & Looks, Blaine’s goal is to focus on real books that real people will read. At least half of the books he reviews are either…
Blaine DesantisApril 26, 2023
Books & Looks: Real Books for Real Readers was started as a podcast to supplement Blaine Desantis’ website, ViewsOnBooks.com, and expand into audio interviews with authors. With Books & Looks, Blaine’s goal is to focus on real books that real people will read. At least half of the books he reviews are either…
Blaine DesantisApril 19, 2023
The Last Remains (Mariner Books) will rightfully jump to the top of many mystery lovers' TBRN (to be read now!!) piles. It is purportedly the 16th and final book in Elly Griffith’s exciting and addictive series about Ruth Galloway, tenured college professor, forensic archeologist and crime solver who routinely aids…
Linda HitchcockApril 17, 2023